The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-27
A FIRE HORROR.
Flames Started in a Theatre
Destroy a Town.
A Score Of Lives Lost and Great
Pecuniary Damage.

For the fourth time in its brief history the
mining town of Hurley, Wis, has been visited
with terrible fire, this time resulting in the
almost total destruction of the town and the
loss of nearly if not fully score of lives.
Only few weeks ago two blocks in the busi-
ness center were burned to the ground In as
many hours at a cost of SlOO,OOO.
The fire started on the stage of the Alcazar
Theatre at eight o'clock P, n, and within an
hour the entire business part of the town
wes in flames, while eleven persons
loss is fully S5oS,0Oo. The Alcazar was
a variety theatre, chiefly frequented by
miners, and was one of the resorts OF un-
savory repute associated with the notorious
dance houses of the mining regions Only
small audience had gathered when the fire
broke out, and they scrambled out in a
hurry. Several of the actors, however,
rushed up stairs to save their wardrobeS. and
when they sought to escape found that they
were hemned in on all sides, the flames having
spread through the wooden building with In
credible rapidity.
How they struggled to escape will never be
known, as none of them except Sadie Wells
and Mabel Powers were seen again. The for
mer appeared at q second-Story window and
called piteously upon the crowd outside to
save her. Before hand could be raised the
flames reached her and communicated to her
clothing. She made frantic effort to jump
through the window, then with piercing
shrek fell into the furnace below. Mabel
Powers had reached a third story win
dow She jumped, and was fatally injured,
Among those who perishel in the theatre
were: Frank Young, Sadie McCabe, and
- Jackson, colored comedians; Tillie
Moore, song and dance artist: Mabel Good
rich and husband, Sadie Wells, Mrs. Fenton,
o<N&l.
known.
Nor was this the worst. Like all mining
camps, Hurley swarmed with the tin-horn
gamblers and roughs, long since banished
from more civilized communities to
such as these. A public disaster was
a private feast They contributed
to the spread of the destruction,
carrying brands of fire into buildings not
touched and taking advantage of the panic
to loot at large. Dozens of these scolndrels
were seen in the street boldly re-
sts g5ie'hs of 'ne'f clothes ef" sngatehed g from from
the shelves of burning tailor shops. Nothing
escaped their hands. They seized bottles of
liquor from the saloons and drank till some
of them fell down unconscious in the midst Of
the devastation and were burned to death.
The Alcazar was in the very heart of the
city. 1t YVES mass of flames in a short time.
The fire seemed to leap from building
to building until several blocks became
a roaring oven. 1t was not long be-
fore every business building between
Third and Fifth avenues was in
flames. All efforts to get the fire under con-
troll seemed futile. The Fire Department, re-
enforced by scores of volunteers, sent its puny
streams against the advancing walls of fame,
but had to retreat as the fire swept resistleSSly
on. 1t did not stop until material for it to
feed upon was lacking
All that remains of the town is the Burton
House and another smaller hotel, the Lake
Shore depot and two or three new residences
on the very summit of the slope, whose de-
tached position saved them There is no i'll
surance, es all the companies Cancelled their
policies Immediately after the late fire. The
Western Union Telegraph Office was
destroyed, and there was no communi-
cation with Ashland, forty miles
away, until the next morning
Conductor Jones, of the Lake Shore train,
which passed through Hurley at 7:20 the next
morning, reported the total destruction of
the town as described.